Gum Disease

Prevention and early detection… making sure you that you do not lose teeth through gum disease

Many people are surprised to hear that more teeth are lost to gum disease than tooth decay. It is easy to ignore warning signs such as blood on your toothbrush… but you need to be aware that simple inflammation of the gums may lead to more serious problems if it goes unchecked.

Two kinds of gum disease… one cause

The most common kind of gum disease is gingivitis – inflammation of the gums. The first sign is usually bleeding when you brush your teeth. Long-standing gingivitis may, in susceptible people, lead to periodontal disease – a more serious condition which attacks other tissues including the bone anchoring the teeth. If this is untreated the teeth may eventually fall out.

All gum disease is caused by plaque, the film of bacteria which forms on the surface of our teeth and gums every day. To prevent gum disease you need to maintain an effective daily brushing and interdental cleaning regime.

How Paul Lowe Dentistry can help you avoid gum disease

Screening for gum disease forms an integral part of your routine examination. The first step is to remove all soft and hard deposits on the teeth above and below the gums and to make sure that there are no pre-disposing factors, such as poorly fitting restorations or food traps, which encourage problems. We will also look at your home regime to ensure that it is as efficient and effective as possible.

When it comes to gum disease, the old saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ is particularly true!